Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on a review from the NASA inspector general examining allegations of improper leasing of a hangar and aircraft fuel purchases between NASA's Ames Research Center and H211, a private company that manages aircraft owned or leased by Google executives.  Grassley has looked into the arrangement amid allegations of poor management by the government to taxpayers' detriment.

"I'm glad the NASA inspector general was able to clear up some of the questions surrounding NASA and Google.  I also have asked the Defense Department inspector general to take a broader look at these fuel contracts.  Given that a 'misunderstanding' between NASA and the Defense Department led to taxpayers' losing out on $3.3 million to $5.3 million in this one contract, a look at these arrangements as a whole is definitely warranted.  The inspector general recommends that NASA explore 'remedies.'  The obvious remedy would be for NASA to seek repayment to the taxpayers for the fuel benefit.  If NASA fails to pursue this option and make taxpayers whole, it's hard to imagine how NASA would justify such a corporate giveaway."

The inspector general review is available here.

Press reports indicate any farm bill extension is a non-starter in the Senate

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today reiterated his call to keep the House in session until its work on many important issues, including a new, long-term farm bill, is completed. There have been recent press reports which indicate the Senate would not consider, let alone be able to pass a short farm bill extension. This situation necessitates the need for the House to remain in session and ready to work on a comprehensive farm bill.

"I don't want to be accused of being the Grinch who wants to steal Christmas, but passing a farm bill is too important for the House to pack up and go home early for the Holidays. We must stay and complete all of the work that the American people are demanding get done and if that means staying through Christmas, I am ready and willing to do just that. There is simply too much to finish in the three remaining days that the House is scheduled to be in session," said Loebsack.

DES MOINES -Today, the Branstad Administration announced its secretive decision to close the Iowa Juvenile Home and outsource the services the Juvenile Home provides to some of Iowa's most troubled youth.

"We are shocked to hear the Governor's office has taken this course of action. Many groups have been working together to solve the issues at the Iowa Juvenile Home. Not only is this a sad day for the workers, but it is a sad day for the Iowa's troubled youth displaced because of the Governor's actions," said AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan.

"The troubled youth at the Juvenile Home deserved a truly open decision making process that sought a dialogue with all Iowans, including legislators. The students at the Juvenile Home deserved an honest and public discussion about how the students will receive assistance in the future. Governor Branstad's closed door decision making process failed to live up to these principles and the Governor's pledge for transparency in state government," added Homan.

Juvenile Home employees have and continue to be willing partners in addressing the failures of management policies at the Juvenile Home.

"Our members and our union will continue to advocate for troubled youth and for the state's responsibility to see them through their difficult times," said Homan.

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Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Releases Television Ad in Honor of Newtown Victims; Sponsoring Week of Action Asking Congress to Act on Background Checks

Des Moines, Dec. 5, 2013 - Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America - Iowa Chapter will host an event on Sat., Dec. 14, in honor of the 20 children and six adults murdered one year ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. This family friendly event called "No More Silence," will send a clear message that it's time to make noise about gun reform. Moms in Central Iowa will honor the Newtown victims and all victims of gun violence through bell ringing in lieu of a moment of silence.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Time  11:00 am

Location  Ding Darling Shelter at Birdland Park/Union Park, 2100 Saylor Rd in Des Moines, Iowa

The Iowa event will be co-sponsored by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Organizing for Action, American Friends Service Committee, The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and will include remarks from Rev. Cheryl Thomas, Calvetta Berry of Mother's Against Violence and Mayor Frank Cownie and will include music from the Bell Choir of Ruby Van Meter.  The event will culminate in a communal bell ringing to honor the 26 victims killed in Newtown, and to demonstrate that American mothers will never again be silent about gun violence. Nationally, there will be more than 50 "No More Silence" events in 35 states. After the program there will be refreshments and a time to make crafts for ourselves and our legislators in Iowa.

A full list of events is available here: http://momsdemandaction.org/no-more-silence/

"The tragedy at Sandy Hook was a wake-up call for many of us and we can no longer be silent about our nation's raging epidemic of gun violence," said Rev. Cheryl R. Thomas, Iowa Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. "Nearly eight children and teens are shot and killed everyday in America. It is time our voices are heard."

"What happened at Sandy Hook Elementary was an unimaginable tragedy for my family, and the families of all of the victims," said Maura Sherlach Schwartz, a national spokesperson for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and daughter of Mary Sherlach, a school psychologist shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary. "It was also a shattering wake-up call for millions of mothers across America. I am proud to be part of this powerful grassroots movement working to combat the national epidemic of gun violence that claims the lives of nearly eight children or teens every day."

In addition, Moms Demand Action has partnered with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to develop an ad, "No More Silence," which will premiere this week on cable news networks. The ad is an emotive remembrance of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, and a commentary on the need for continued indignation among Americans at the inaction of Congress. The ad was created by the Toronto office of GREY advertising. The ad can be viewed here.

In the week leading up to the anniversary, members of Moms Demand Action will engage in a week of action, during which they will call on Congress to immediately enact common-sense reforms such as comprehensive background checks for gun purchases. The daily calls to action are:

?      Monday: Craft paper bells with a message to elected officials and post photos to Facebook and Twitter (instructions for the craft are available here: http://action.momsdemandaction.org/page/content/BellCraft/)

?      Tuesday: Email Congress to demand reforms using our email tool: http://action.momsdemandaction.org/page/speakout/no-more-silence

?      Wednesday: Use our Fast Tweet page to tweet members of Congress using the hashtags #NoMoreSilence #gunsense and #MomsDemand: http://action.momsdemandaction.org/page/content/tweet/

?      Thursday: Join our Thunderclap: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/7035-no-more-silence

?      Friday: Call Congress with our easy call-in tool: INSERT URL

Sun., Dec. 15, will mark the one-year anniversary of Moms Demand Action, which was founded one day after the mass shooting in Newtown. In just 12 months, Moms Demand Action has more than 125,000 members with a chapter in every state. The grassroots movement's members have been instrumental in securing significant legislative victories at the state and local levels, including the passage of strong new gun laws in California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. Moms Demand Action also has been active in supporting candidates with gun sense, including endorsements for Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Virginia Governor-Elect Terry McAuliffe.

Moms Demand Action also successfully convinced Starbucks to change its policy allowing guns inside stores. In September, Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz announced, "Guns are no longer welcome at Starbucks." Moms Demand Action is continuing to push for gun sense policies at American businesses and institutions, including Staples and other retailers.

"American moms will never forget the victims lost at Sandy Hook nor the countless other victims lost everyday all over the country to gun violence. In one year we have seen successes as a result of our voices and we will not stop until all of our children, families, and communities are safe from gun violence," said Thomas.